Needle motion for looms



June 16, 1959 c, BRANNOCK 2,890,725

NEEDLE. MOTION FOR Looms Filed April 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR \MAQK c. BfiANNOCK M. c. BRANNOCK 2,890,725

NEEDLE MOTION FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1959 Filed April 11, 1957 June 16,1959 M. c. BRANNOCK 2,890,725

' NEEDLE MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed April 11, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR MACH C. BRANNQCK United States Patent Ofiice 2,890,725 Patented June 16, 1959 NEEDLE MOTION FOR LOOMS Mack C. Brannock, Leaksville, N.C., assignor to Fieldcrest Mills, Inc, Spray, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1957, Serial No. 652,284

4 Claims. (Cl. 139-123) This invention relates to an improvement in the weft tneedle operating mechanism used principally in wide looms such as Axminster carpet looms and is more specifically directed to improving that type of weft needle operating mechanism in which the needle is oscillated by a cable drive.

It has been customary heretofore to drive the needle by means of various cable arrangements. The most common of these has been the type in which the cable is driven through a drum which is oscillated by a heavy, reciprocating, segment gear. An improvement upon the drum system of driving the needle has been described in Patent 2,258,191, issued October 7, 1941, to Oscar V. Payne, in which there is shown a system of stationary and movable pulleys, the movable pulleys being mounted on a rocking lever generally similar to the lever which makes up one of the elements of my invention. It is through reciprocation of the group of movable pulleys in this latter system that the needle is caused to reciprocate in the loom. However, in both of the subject drum and movable pulley systems, the crank arm which drives the drum or the moving pulleys, as the case may be, operates around an axis which is perpendicular to the power shaft of the loom and, for this reason, heavy gearing has been required to change the direction of motion between the power shaft and the crank arm. The presence of this gearing has placed a definite limitation on the maximum loom speed obtainable because of the loss of power in the gearing and because of the inherent back lash which is necessary to prevent binding of the gears in operation but which limits high speed operation. Unless frequently maintained and adjusted, this backlash leads to loom smashes, rough operation and frequently, slip-shots which occur when the end of the needle stroke and the shuttle stroke are not exactly in time so that the shuttle fails to catch the filling thread.

In my invention, I use a moving pulley form of drive and divide the pulleys into two groups or systems of pulleys and mount the driving crank arm directly on an extension of the power shaft of the loom. By this means, I introduce power into the cable in a warpwise direction and eliminate the conventional gearing between the crank arm and the power shaft and thereby obtain a needle motion for looms which is easier to maintain, is adaptable to substantially higher loom speed and one which is not conducive to mis-timing, slip-shots, smashes and the like as found in the conventional system.

It is an object of my invention to improve upon the cable drive type of needle motion by providing a more direct path of power transmission between the cable and the power shaft of the loom.

It is another object of my invention to drive the cable in a cable type of needle drive in a warpwise direction through means mounted directly on the loom power shaft.

It is a further object of my invention to devise an mis-timing, slip-shots, smashes and the like caused by the needle motion itself.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a needle motion of the moving pulley type, a new arrangement of cable wherein one system of cable operates in a fillingwise direction and another system operates substantially in a warpwise direction.

With these and other objects in mind which may be seen as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved needle drive and showing to the side, somewhat schematically, its relation to the weaving mechanism of a representative loom.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation, partially in section and partially broken away, taken substantially along line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a somewhat schematic plan view, looking down on Figure 2, and showing the arrangement of the pulleys and the manner in which the cable is trained on the pulleys.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the needle rail and needle carrier shown in the right-hand portion of Figure 1 and showing the means by which the cable transmits its force to the needle, the needle being shown extending in the opposite direction in Figure 4 from that in which it extends in Figure 1, for purposes of clarity.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the end connector shown in the left-hand portion of Figure 3, and which is used to terminate one end of the cable.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the connector shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the auxiliary frame structure, on a reduced scale, looking down on Figure 2 and showing how the crank arm is mounted.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the frame structure shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged plan view of the connection A, in Figure 8, used to fasten the crank arm on the end of the loom lay cam or power shaft.

Figure 11 is an elevation of the connector shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 1, thereis shown an overall plan view of my invention attached to a representative needle loom, such as an Axminster loom, which employs a needle operating from a stationary weft supply to carry a double weft filling through the fabric and which has a power or lay cam shaft, making a single revolution for each beat-up of the loom. Where an Axminster loom is employed, it should also be understood that the conventional shuttle would be employed to catch the filling and there would be the conventional shedding and pile insertion means all of which are not otherwise shown in detail since in themselves they form no part of this invention and among needle looms may take many forms I and arrangements.

improved needle motion which is substantially free of Figure 1 shows frame 10 which supports the conventional loom parts and carries warp W which passes through harness H over lay L supporting reed R and then passes to the fell Where warp W and double filling F are woven into fabric C, after which the fabric passes over breast beam B and to the usual take-up rolls, not shown. Attached to frame 10 is conventional motor and needle rail frame 11 which supports motor 12 driving spur gear 13. Mounted lengthwise of the loom in bearings 14, 15, attached to frame 11, is shaft 16 having mounted thereon clutch 17, spur gear 18, worm 19 and hand wheel 19a, the latter being useful in indexing the loom in a standstill condition. As best shown in Figures land 2, gear 13 drives gear 18, and when engaged by clutch mechanism, not shown, through clutch 17 drives worm 19. Meshing with worm 19 .is a worm gear 20 mounted on lay cam shaft 21 carried in bearings 22, 23, the same being attached to frames 10 and 11 respectively. Also mounted within frame 11 and somewhat rearwardly and parallel to shaft 21 in bearings 25, 26 is the conventional harness cam shaft 24 on which spur gear 27 is mounted and through which power is transmitted from the lay cam shaft 21 through spur gear 28 mounted thereon to the harness cam shaft 24. Thus, motor 12 causes lay cam shaft 21 to turn at a normally low and preferably uniform rate of speed of one revolu tion for each beat-up of the loom, thus driving the conventional lay cams and harness and shuttle cams, not shown, and also as later described, the crank arm of my improved needle motion.

Mounted on frame 10 and an extension of frame 11 is needle rail 30 which may have the conventional tubular cross section and slot 31 (see Figures 4 and and which confines needle N to a definite path as the needle reciprocates back and forth into and out of the shed formed by the warp W. Attached to needle N at its butt end is needle carrier 32 which serves to attach the cable D to needle N. At the extreme ends of the needle rail, mounted on frames and the extension of frame 11 are fixed, bearing mounted, pulley assemblies 33, 34.

That part of the loom thus far described is well known and can be of conventional construction and has, therefore, not been described in further detail. My invention comprises a new mechanical arrangement for transmitting power from the power shaft of the loom, in this case the lay cam shaft 21, to a section of cable lying warpwise of the loom, and a system of cables and pulleys adaptable to the mechanical arrangement for transferring this power from a fillingwise section of cable to the needle. Before discussing the cable system, I will first describe those parts of my invention which are useful in carrying power to a warpwise section of my improved cable system.

In the conventional loom, lay cam shaft 21 terminates within frame 11. In my invention, I have extended this shaft into a new or auxiliary frame 35 which is attached to and overrides the needle rail extension of frame 11. As shown in Figure l, the new frame is substantially rectangular in shape with the long side of the frame substantially parallel to the warp. While any suitable material such as cast iron, steel plate or the like may be used, I have preferred to form frame 35 of welded fabricated steel construction. Comprised of two side members 36, 37, and two end members 38, 39, the top of the new frame is formed of welded channels and rests on leg members 40 which in turn rest on base 41. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, beneath member 37 and above base 41 is mounted bearing plate member 42 supported by a structural member 43, the purpose of plate member 42 being hereinafter described.

Mounted on the end of shaft 21 and within new frame 35 is a crank arm assembly a comprised of driving arm 45, crank pin 46, idler arm 47 and idler shaft 48. In view of the heavy forces placed on driving arm 45, I prefer to use a clamping type of connector on both arms 45 and 47, such as shown in Figures 10 and 11. As used with arm 45, this connector comprises a sleeve 49 pressed on shaft 21, a slotted connection between shaft 21 and sleeve 49 containing key 50 and, a clamping connection obtained through compression of a raised and slotted portion 51 of arm 45 having slot 52 and bolt members 53. As can be readily seen, the sleeve 49 furnishes an increased shaft area or gripping surface for arm 45 and, by means of the press fit and key 50, sleeve 49 is rigidly fixed to shaft 21. As bolts 53 are tightened,

raised portion 51 is compressed around sleeve 49 thus tightening and fastening arm 45 rigidly to shaft 21. Intermediate of and rigidly bolted and fixed to both arms 45 and 47 is crank pin 46 and attached to the connector portion of arm 47 is idler shaft 48 being axially aligned with shaft 21 and rotatable within bearing assembly 48a mounted on plate 42 (see Figure 9). A connector of the type already described is used on arm 47 and it will, therefore, not be described in further detail. Crank pin 46 provides a pivotal connection to a link 54 (Figure 2), the right end of which is pivoted on a stud 55 to a movable pulley actuating lever 56. Mounted on the lower end of lever 56 is stud 57 providing a pivotal connection for a link 58 pivoted to the frame 35 on stud 59 mounted on plate 60 attached to base 41, this link 58 being arranged to rise and fall as the crank arm 11 rotates.

A second link 61 is pivoted at its lower end to lever 56 to swing about the axis of stud 55 and at its upper end is pivoted at 62 to a shaft and bearing block assembly 63. The links 61 and 58 provide a floating support for the lever 56 and the upper link 61 causes the upper end of the lever 56 to move in a substantially horizontal line, the lower link 58 being movable in a vertical direction to compensate for the arcuate motion of the lever 56 around its pivot 55 when swinging. The upper end of lever 56 carries a stud 64 on which are mounted movable pulleys 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72, all of which move in unison when lever 56 rocks back and forth.

So far I have limited my description to the new mechanism which I have devised for introducing power into a warpwise section of cable. It is important to note that, whereas in the conventional moving pulley system, the lever 56 operates in a fillingwise direction, in my invention, I have mounted a crank aim directly on the loom power shaft, in this case lay cam shaft 21, and have connected this crank arm to the driving link 54 for directly driving the movable pulley actuating lever 56, in a warpwise direction, thereby providing means for transmitting power directly from the loom power shaft to pulley mechanism associated with driving the cable. My invention also includes a new cable and pulley system which lends itself to the aforesaid mechanism. I will first describe the system of pulleys and then the system of cable.

In the conventional drum or movable pulley type cable drive, it has been necessary to confine the travel of the cable to a substantially fillingwise path. I have provided what amounts to essentially two groups or systems of pulleys so that the run of cable hereinafter described may partake of both warpwise as well as fillingwise travel. The first group of pulleys corresponds in part to conventional cable drives and is comprised of the conventional stationary pulleys 33, 34, and new stationary pulleys v73, 74. Pulleys 33, 34 as already described are mounted in bearings in a fixed position and new pulleys 73, 74 are, also, bearing mounted on the respective side members 36, 37 in fixed position but in a somewhat horizontal, tilted position as best shown in Figure 2. The pulleys 33, 34, and 73, 74, comprising a first group, are all mounted so as to maintain the run of cable mounted thereon substantially in alignment with needle rail 30. The second group of pulleys consist of fixed pulleys 75, 76, 77, and 78, 79, 80, 81, and the previously mentioned movable pulleys, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, and 72. As can best be seen in Figures 1 and 3, pulleys 75, 76, 77, and 78, 79, 80, 81 are mounted on end members 38 and 39 respectively in a relatively vertical, slightly tilted position whereas all of the movable pulleys are mounted on shaft 64 in vertical position. The pulleys of said second group are all mounted so as to maintain the run of cable mounted thereon in a substantially warpwise direction.

Also attached to frame member 38 is a cable terminating assembly T comprised of spring 82 mounted against member 38 and confined on a threaded rod 83 passing through and longitudinally movable with respect to frame member 38, a threaded U-shape link 84, a stud 85 around which pivots member 86 and holding plate member 87 to which is attached an end of cable (see Figures 1, 6, 7). Frame member 39 also carries a second cable terminating assembly T which, except for spring 82 and except for the fact that it is fixed with respect to frame 39, is of the same construction as assembly T and is, therefore, designated by the same reference numerals with the prime notation added.

As will be understood by reference to the drawings, holding plate 87 receives the cable between itself and pivoting member 86 and through the bolt members 87a firmly holds the cable. The particular advantage that I have found in this method of termination is that it is easily disassembled and due to the pivoting action around stud 85, the customary terminal strain is relieved. Also, by having the left hand terminal T (see Figure 3) equipped with spring 82 which causes rod 83 to move in and out according to the cable tension, any tendency for the cable to develop slack is ordinarily compensated for by the spring. It will be noted as shown in Figure 2 that the two cable terminal assemblies T, T are mounted at different elevations since the assembly on the right in Figure 2 receives a top run of cable and the assembly on the left receives a bottom run of cable.

Turning now to the specific method of training the cable D upon the pulleys, We will consider that we are starting at the cable terminal assembly T mounted on frame member 39 and will follow the cable D from this point through the cable system to the opposite cable terminal assembly T mounted on frame member 38. In Figure 3, solid lines are used to indicate a cable run which is going from the top of one pulley to the top of another pulley and dotted lines are used to indicate a cable run which is going from the bottom of one pulley to the bottom of another. I

Leaving the right hand cable terminal T' mounted on frame 39, the cable D goes to the top of pulley 70 then to the bottom of pulley 81 then to the top of pulley 69 then to the bottom of pulley 80 then to the top of pulley 66 then to the bottom of pulley 79 then to the top of pulley 65 then to the bottom of pulley 78 and then to the bottom of pulley 74 where the cable leaves the second system of pulleys and goes into the first system of pulleys.

After reaching pulley 74 the cable D leaves pulley 74 and goes to the top of pulley 34 and from the bottom of pulley 34 the cable runs to the needle N where the cable is rigidly fixed to needle carrier 32.

As is well known, needle carrier 32 is welded or otherwise firmly attached to the butt end of needle N and it is through the needle carrier 32 that power is transmitted from the cable to the needle N. While the cable may be broken within needle carrier 32 so as to confine two ends rather than a continuous run of cable Within carrier 32, I prefer to use a continuous run of cable, and, therefore, pass the cable through carrier 32 as one continuous piece, clamping such portion of the cable rigidly to carrier 32. I have found the carrier construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 to be the most satisfactory. In these figures, upper plate 88 is welded to the needle butt and as shown contains a plurality of threaded holes 89. A groove 90 contained in upper plate 88 serves to guide and align the cable during clamping of a mating lower plate 91 to the upper plate 88 by means of bolts 92.

After leaving carrier 32, the cable D runs to the bottom of pulley 33 then to the top of pulley 73 where it leaves the first system of pulleys and enters into the second system of pulleys. Leaving pulley 73, the cable goes to the top of pulley 72 then to the bottom of pulley 77 then to the top of pulley 71 then to the bottom of pulley 76 then to the top of pulley 68 then to the bottom of pulley 75 then to the top of pulley 67 and from the 6 bottom of pulley 67 the cable goes to the left hand terminal assembly T mounted on frame member 38.

In arranging my pulleys, I have found it convenient to make all of the pulleys essentially of the same diameter except for pulleys 76 and which I prefer to have somewhat larger, the diameter of the larger pulleys being designed to bridge the distance covered by the span of cable trained thereon and by such means I maintain a parallel condition in the runs of cable. In addition to the adjustments already noted, all of thefixed pulley members, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 mounted within frame 35 are each longitudinally adjustable and since this form of cable drive is inherently diflicult to adjust to the point where there is no slack under any condition, I have provided as a part of the terminal assembly T on frame member 38 a spring 82 which serves to take up any excess slack as lever arm 56 rocks back and forth. Thus, if slack tends to develop in the bottom run of cable leading to the terminal T on frame member 38, spring 82 will immediately expand and take up such slack.

In operation, clutch 17 is engaged by mechanism not shown and motor 12 drives shaft 16 through spur gears 13 and 18. Worm 19 mounted on shaft 16 drives worm gear 20 which in turn drives shaft 21. Mounted on the end of shaft 21 is my improved crank arm assembly A. As shaft 21 turns, preferably at a uniform rate of rotation, crank arm 45 is rotated which action is transmitted through link 54 to lever 56, thus causing the movable pulley assembly mounted on stud 64 to rock back and forth along a substantially horizontal line through the action of links 61 and 58.

As lever 56 rocks to the right in Figures 2 and 3, pulleys 67, 68, 71, and 72 are pulling and lengthening those cable sections touching said pulleys and as the lever 56 rocks to the left, pulleys 65, 66, 69 and 70 are pulling and lengthening the cable Wrapped thereon. As can be seen, particularly in Figure 3, this rocking motion of lever 56 causes first a paying out and then a taking up action of the cable sections confined Within frame 35, which action is translated as a fillingwise reciprocating action to the needle N through carrier 32.

It can be seen as pulley 72 moves to the right in Figure 3, it will cause the top cable run leading from .pulley 72 to pulley 73 to pulley 33 to carrier 32 to draw the needle N into the shed whereas when pulley 65 is moving to the left, it will cause the bottom run of cable, leaving 65 and going to pulley 78 and then to pulley 74 then to pulley 34 and to carrier 32, to pull the needle N out of the shed. Thus, as lever 56 rocks to the right in Figure 3, needle N is inserted into the shed and as lever 56 rocks to the left, needle N is withdrawn from the shed. Since each movable pulley takes up approximately twice as much cable as the amount of its movement, a very considerable travel is obtained in the needle through the relatively short travel of the movable pulleys.

It can thus be seen that I have provided an improved form of cable drive in which the driving crank arm is mounted directly on the end of the power shaft and in which power is transmitted to the cable system in a relatively warpwise direction even though the needle itself is traveling in a fillingwise direction. Since the extent of movement of the needle carriage can be varied by the number and arrangement of fixed and movable pulleys employed and by the manner of terminating and training the cable, I do not wish necessarily to be limited to the exact relation of pulleys and cable shown herein.

Having thus described my invention, it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft needle operating mechanism for an Axminster loom, a needle rail extending from one side of the loom, a needle carrier to be reciprocated along the rail, a first set of stationary pulleys supported at the ends of said needle rail, an auxiliary frame intermediate of and through which said needle rail passes, said frame extending lengthwise of the loom and having mounted thereon a second set of stationary pulleys substantially in alignment with the first set of pulleys, a cable having an intermediate part thereof connected to the needle carrier and having those parts thereof extending away from the needle carrier trained around the pulleys in the first and second sets, third and fourth setsof stationary pulleys located substantially within and at the ends of said frame, a fifth set of movable pulleys also located within said frame and movable between the third and fourth sets, the cable extending from the second set of pulleys to and around the third, fourth and fifth sets of pulleys, means to reciprocate said fifth set of movable pulleys between said third and fourth sets of stationary pulleys, means to hold the ends of the cable in substantially fixed relation with respect to each other, movement of the set of movable pulleys causing reciprocation of the needle carrier along the needle rail.

2. In a weft needle operating mechanism for a loom, a needle rail, a needle carrier to slide along the rail, a first set of stationary pulleys located at the endsof said rail, a second set of stationary pulleys located intermediate of the first set and mounted to guide cable between the first and second sets in a substantially fillingwise direction, a third set of stationary pulleys located between and slightly in front of said second set of stationary pulleys, a fourth set of stationary pulleys also located between but substantially rearwardly of said second set, a fifth set of movable pulleys located between said third and fourth sets, the third, fourth and fifth sets of pulleys being mounted to guide cable in a substantially warpwise direction and at a horizontal plane substantially the same as the horizontal plane occupied by cable running between the first and second sets, a cable having a medial section attached to the carrier, the cable leaving the carrier being trained around each of the sets of stationary and movable pulleys, a lever on which the movable pulleys are mounted, a revolving shaft running fillingwise of the loom having a rotation for each pick of the loom, connections between the shaft and lever to reciprocate the lever as the shaft rotates and means to hold the ends of the cable fixed with respect to the movable pulleys, reciprocation of the lever causing the carrier to reciprocate along the rail.

3. In a weft needle operating mechanism for a loom having a needle rail, a needle carrier, stationary pulleys located adjacent each end of the needle rail, a shaft running lengthwise of the loom and having a rotation for each pick of the loom, a set of stationary pulleys located intermediate of the first mentioned stationary pulleys and substantially in alignment with said needle rail, a third and fourth set of stationary pulleys and a fifth set of movable pulleys all located on substantially the same horizontal plane as said first and second sets of stationary pulleys, a cable attached to said needle carrier and so trained around said pulleys as to provide one system of cable running fillingwise of the loom and a second system of cable running warpwise of the loom, a lever on which said fifth set of movable pulleys is mounted and movable between said third and fourth sets of stationary pulleys, crank arm connection means between said shaft and said lever whereby rotation of said shaft causes a rocking ad tion in said lever, the motion thereby produced in the warpwise system of cable causing reciprocation of the fillingwise system of cable along the needle rail.

4. In a needle cable drive for a loom, in combination, a needle rail, a needle carrier, a first set of stationary pulleys located adjacent to each end of the rail, a loorn shaft running parallel to the needle rail and having a rotation for each pick of the loom, a second set of stationary pulleys located intermediate of said first set and with said first set designed to guide cable in a substantially fillingwise direction, a third and fourth set of stationary pulleys located intermediate of said second set, a fifth set of movable pulleys located intermediate of said third and fourth sets and with said third and fourth sets designed to guide cable in a substantially warpwise direction, all of said pulleys being mounted in substantially the same horizontal plane, a lever on which said movable pulleys are mounted, a cable connected to said carrier and trained initially on the first andsecond sets and then on the third, fourth and fifth sets of pulleys with ends terminating on structures causing each of the ends to remain fixed with respect to the other, a crank arm mounted on said shaft and connected 'to said lever to reciprocate said fifth set of movable pulleys between said third and fourth set of stationary pulleys, the reciprocation of said movable pulleys causing reciprocation of said carrier along the rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,191 Payne Oct. 7, 1941 2,524,735 Pfau Oct. 3, 1950 2,750,965 Porter June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 332,521 Great Britain July 22, 1930 

